Outback Crab Shack

Outback Crabshack (www.outbackcrabshack.com) Is on CR-13 in the northwest corner of St. Augustine, Fl. Go to the web page for directions. This is shorts and tee shirt dining at its best. Located on six mile creek off the St. John's River (accessible by boat). If you like to eat with your hands and drink a cold Bud or Corona, this is your kind of place!! The menu goes from burgers to fried gator tail and their signature dishes are terrific. Fried or boiled platters (low country boil style) of shrimp, crab legs, crawfish, boiled potatoes, onions and corn on the cob. If the menu says it is for 3 people it is realy for 4. They have a large outdoor patio area with wooden picnic tables and paper towels on the table. This ain't fancy but it is good and it is fun!! Great place for a group of friends or family. When you are finished eating they have a verrrry long dock for walking off some of that meal. You might even catch a glimpse of a gator or two. On the weekends go on the off hours between lunch and dinner (about 3:00 to 3:30) otherwise it can be very crowded. Prices are good and so are those platters!!

Donovan's Irish Pub (http://www.donovans-irishpub.com/) is located at 7440 U.S. 1 N., St. Augustine, Fl. at the south retail complex at the Palencia Community. We had a chance to meet the owners, Michael and Maureen. Very nice people! Maureen is obviously the operations and The Irish half. Michael is the meet and greet half. Donovan's is a new establishment and they are about to celebrate the restaurants one year annivesary in June.

I don't know that I would call it an Irish Pub but more a restaurant with an Irish theme. It is a nice casual place and very clean! They have a full bar and a handful of beers on tap including Guiness. After all what would an irish place be without Guiness on tap??

We had a very interesting appetizer - Danny's Fried Dill Pickles, 6 very large spears ($5.99). Very interesting and good (you have to like dill pickles) with a very crisp tempura type batter.

J had the Beer Battered Fish and Chips ($12.99) and said it was excellent! I tried it and it was definitely very good as was the fish inside. Plus they had malt vinegar on the table. I had the Savory Shepherd's Pie ($10.99) good not great and could have used a little more vegetables and a little less mashed potatoes plus a little more pepper in the stew. We did not try dessert since the portions are substantial and just didn't have room. We did however try their Baily's Irish Coffee. I watched the bartender make it and he was not cheap with the Jamesons Irish Whiskey.
In general we had good food, good service, good prices and the owners stopped by several times to chat and see if everything was OK. Also, the food quality was very good and they didn't appear to skimp on anything. We would go back!!

Restaurant comments and reviews

Zhanras (http://www.zhanras.com/) is just outside of the St. Augustine Historic District on A1A. Just over the Bridge of Lions on the north side of A1A. Zhanras has been here for a couple of years and started out as a tappas restaurant. It is a fun concept where you can order several or many appetizers to share. If you are really hungry you can just keep ordering. You don't have to order everything at once and you can also change your wine selection to fit what you are eating. Recently they have also added full entrees for those who don't care to share or just want a full meal. They have a good variety of food and it is very good. Zhanras has a full bar, a good wine selection and a very good list of specialty martinis. Service is normally very good and the staff is friendly and helpful. Pricing is fair for what you are getting. Martinis are a little high for the area but oh so tasty. There is additional seating in the bar at tall bistro tables and there is a cigar bar in the back. Not being a cigar smoker I have never wondered into the cigar bar so I won't comment on it. Not your typical St. Augustine restaurant... a step up! It's a great place to experiment with different foods and chat with friends.

Restaurant Comments and Reviews

O.C. Whites (http://www.ocwhites.com/) is in the St. Augustine, FL Historic District on a triangle across from the public marina. The food is good and has a fairly varied menu. They want you to think that they specialize in seafood but I have yet to find anything on the menu that is fresh caught but the food is good. Service is good but on occaision can be just OK. This is a good place for that lazy afternoon lunch. We have never been rushed and they have a very nice outdoor patio area, part of which, is covered by old jasmine vines. Pricing is reasonable for the area and for what you get. They also have live entertainment on the patio.



J.P. Henley's (http://www.jphenleys.com/) is also in the St. Augustine, Florida Historic District across from the public marina. This is more of a pub than a restaurant, but if you like beer this is the place to go. I believe the count is 50 types of beer on tap and 120 types of bottled beer, including a few interesting combinations of their own. They have a decent variety of wine available and the food is very good, not your typical pub fare. Service is very good and they will let you sample anything on tap before you decide. A few flat screens on the walls for viewing the latest game but they also have a separate dining area in case you don't care to catch the game. This is a fairly new new establishment. Very nice inside and very clean. Beer pricing is a little high but what a selection!! Happy Hour is at 3pm on Saturday and Sunday!